Entertainment Briefs — May 4

Want to get out this spring, and learn more about birds and have a morning hike on the trails at the Northland Arboretum? Kickoff spring at 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, at the Arb at 14250 Conservation Drive.

The Brainerd Lakes Area Audubon Society and the Arboretum will be sponsoring short, morning birding hikes this spring. Join an experienced birding guide Wednesdays and Saturday mornings in May and learn more about the many birds that inhabit or migrate through our area.

The cost is free for Northland Arboretum members and $5 at the gate for nonmembers.

For more information, call 218-829-8770, email info@northlandarb.org or visit www.northlandarb.org/home .

The fascinating stories of Puerto Rico will be the focus of the Cultural Thursday presentation at Central Lakes College at noon Thursday, May 5.

Tatiana Colón, a liberal arts student and a native of Puerto Rico, and Tracey Kloeckl-Jiménez, a CLC German and Spanish instructor, will present “Puerto Rico: A Kaleidoscope of Overlapping Cultures” in the Chalberg Theatre at the Brainerd campus.

Throughout its history, Puerto Rico has hosted encounters between the people of the Americas and those of Europe and Africa. With its blended historical influences, Puerto Rico has developed a complex and multi-faceted identity.

Attendees may also watch the Cultural Thursday presentation via a free Zoom Webinar. Pre-register for the event at https://tinyurl.com/2s67ak7k .

The seventh annual Breezy Point Aviation Day will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at Breezy Point Airport .

The free event will include a military aircraft flyover, an aircraft static display, EMS vehicles and a medi-vac helicopter and a classic car show with all collector cars invited to the event.

Lunch and drinks will be served, and there will be a pilots and friends social at the airfield at 30360 Airport Road. There are no parking fees or landing fees.

Last year, over 1,000 people showed up to see 72 airplanes and 65 classic cars.

Breezy Point Airport is a private airport. Pilots must call for permission and visit the airport's website at www.breezypointairport.com for a video pilot briefing before landing.

For more info, call Cliff at 218-838-3434.

Lisa Jordan will lead workshops from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at The Crossing Arts Alliance in downtown Brainerd on how to build a magpie nest.

Use wool and a variety of ribbons, trims and natural materials to build a lovely and eclectic nest that will be the envy of any magpie.

This class is suitable for beginning or intermediate needle-felters ages 10 and up. Using a specially barbed needle and fluffy wool, students will learn to work around a form, incorporate other materials and form egg shapes.

Jordan has been felting since 2006. The Crossing Arts director enjoys sharing this medium with others and has taught throughout the state.

All wool and materials are provided to complete the nest and eggs, and students will keep their tools and leftover supplies after the class.

The cost is $55 per person. (Crossing Arts members, as a benefit of membership, will receive a $5 gift card when attending the class). To register for the class, visit https://bit.ly/3FiXWws .

Heartland Poets, an area chapter of the League of Minnesota Poets, will meet from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 7, in the large room of the Brainerd Public Library .

If you have a favorite poem honoring Mother’s Day, or another favorite, meeting participants can read a poem at the podium at the start of the meeting.

Bring information you have regarding opportunities for poets. Material regarding League of Minnesota Poets members’ weekend retreat in July and the 38th annual League of Minnesota Poets contest brochure will be available at the meeting.

Poets will read and share poems-in-progress at the meeting at 416 S. Fifth St. Bring copies so others may better appreciate your efforts.

This meeting is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Central Lakes Rotary will host author Frank F. Weber at its club breakfast at 7 a.m. Tuesday, May 10, at the Brenny Funeral Chapel, 31283 Front St., in Pequot Lakes.

Weber, a forensic psychologist and an award-winning author, will provide a presentation on human trafficking. The event is free and open to the public.

As a forensic psychologist, Weber has completed assessments in hundreds of sexual assault cases. He is the author of professional publications and training materials including “A Guide to Addressing Mental Disorders.”

Contributed / Central Lakes Rotary

He also has written several novels about detective work solving crimes of abuse and assault. His award-winning books include “Murder Book” (2017), “The I-94 Murders” (2018), “Last Call” (2019), “Lying Close” (2020) and “Burning Bridges” (2021).

His latest book “Black and Blue” is due for release this spring. Autographed copies of his books will be available for sale at the Rotary meeting.

For more information about Weber, visit www.Frankweberauthor.com .

The Central Lakes Wind Symphony and Central Lakes Jazz Orchestra will showcase their talent and hard work at their spring concert at Central Lakes College’s Chalberg Theatre at 501 W. College Drive in Brainerd,

The concert will take place from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, and will include a dedication of Modest Mussorgsky’s “Great Gate of Kiev.”

The concert will also be livestreamed to Ukraine at https://bit.ly/3yaXkra .